What if you could say goodbye to hair problems once and for all? Do you think it is impossible?
It turns out that you need to know just one word to get problems out of your head (literally and metaphorically). We will decode it for you today.
Hair POROSITY will no longer be a mystery. You are going to find the code for the beauty of your hair.
Turn to the beautiful side of hair
Knowing the hair porosity will make your hair care routine much easier, delivering lots of satisfaction and benefits. You just need to match the porosity to your hair. The verb match is fortunate – a given type of molecules, included in cosmetics, matches a specific hair structure. How is it possible?
Has it ever happened that you bought a hair product which… didn’t work? Instead of increasing shine, it made hair dull. Instead of moisturising, it left strands stiff and coarse. Instead of smoothing, it triggered hair frizz.
It is because of the external hair structure – the porosity. It turns out that some ingredients or molecules of hair balms and conditioners do not fit your hair structure. It is similar to two puzzle pieces which don’t match. Tempting slogans on shampoo and conditioner labels are misleading, promising something that is simply impossible from the physical point of view. The best thing you can do is take a closer look at your hair and get to know it so you can always choose the right hair care products and routine.
Porosity – the key to beautiful, healthy hair. What does it mean?
What is hair porosity? It is not some complicated term that only professionals understand. Porosity refers to the ability of your hair to absorb water and nutrients and to the position of keratin cuticle scales on the hair surface. There is no hair (on the body, head, the lashes or brows) that is perfectly smooth. Under the microscope, it is visible that hair is made up of small cuticle scales. These scales cover the hair stem (similarly to tiles which cover the roof of a house). The scales are tightly bound together, slightly raised or wide open. The porosity defines the position of the scales. The highest porosity means the most damaged hair which is characterised by raised cuticles.
Hair porosity – how to define it?
We already know that hair porosity is the criterion which classifies and describes the condition of hair. Knowing the hair type, we know how to care for it and which products to use. Now, all you need to do is learn the three types of porosity and check which one you have. Doing an online hair porosity test (https://nanoil.co.uk/hair-porosity-test) is the best way – a few questions about your hair care and the appearance of your strands. However, many women know how to define their hair porosity reading the descriptions. That is why you should check out the following characteristic:
Three types of hair porosity
1. Low porosity hair
This type of hair is smooth, quite thick and strong, stiff and heavy at the same time. Low porosity hair doesn’t need a flat iron – it is quite smooth. This hair type is resistant to damage and dehydration yet thinking that it is troublefree is a mistake. Unfortunately: low porosity hair comes with the disturbed blood flow to the scalp, which means too much sebum and oiliness. Low porosity hair is flat, heavy and volume-less. It is challenging when it comes to styling routine. You can easily weigh it down with the inappropriate products and treatments.
2. Medium porosity hair
This type of porosity is often called normal. The cuticle scales are slightly raised. Sadly, medium porosity is far from normal. This hair type is very moody and demanding. It quickly reacts to all temperature or air moisture changes. As a result, medium porosity hair tends to be frizzy, static and dry. A wrong product makes strands stiff and dull. Medium porosity hair is prone to seasonal thinning. The hair ends are often split and very dry. On the other hand, if it gets the right care, medium porosity hair looks beautiful – it is soft, shiny and voluminous, smooth and nice to the touch, not needing the advanced styling.
3. High porosity hair
This hair type comes with highly-raised keratin scales so toxins and dehydrating substances easily get inside. High porosity hair is already damaged and still exposed to more damage. After all, open scales provide no protection for the inner hair structures. The improper routine and products weaken highly-porous hair instead of helping it. It is often brittle, the structure is uneven, it is coarse, forever dull and – in case of blonde – it is stiff and over-processed. High porosity hair tends to have splitting ends whereas the bulbs are very weak. In extreme cases, the hair growth is blocked.
What is the best hair care for each of the three types of porosity?
The key to the successful care for all hair types is choosing products that include molecules matching the gaps in the external keratin layer. The size of the molecules matters the most; if they’re too big, they may overburden low porosity hair; if they are too small, they may trigger frizz in medium and high porosity hair. To provide the precise hair care, choose natural oils. The classification of oils and the analysis of their ingredients tells you exactly which oil is good for a given hair type.
How to choose an oil right for the hair porosity?
Natural, cold-pressed oils are divided into three groups. Each group goes with one hair porosity. The division is simple and precise. There are:
1. Penetrating oils & butters
Thanks to tiny molecules and majority of unsaturated fatty acids, they are ideal for low porosity hair.
2. Semi-penetrating oils
Due to a medium-size of molecules and the biggest number of omega-7 and omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids, these oils are cut out for medium porosity hair.
3. Non-penetrating oils
Their large molecules are ideal for high porosity hair. Non-penetrating oils are mostly made up of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated acids.
My hair has low porosity – what it means and which oils I should choose?
Low porosity hair needs lightweight oils which lift the roots, care for the scalp (control sebum secretion and keep it clean) and don’t weigh hair down. This hair type needs non-overburdening oils which add softness and volume to strands.
Do you have low porosity hair? Choose coconut oil, babassu oil, palm oil, castor oil, pine oil, cupuacu butter.
My hair has medium porosity – what it means and which oils I should choose?
Medium porosity hair needs a non-stop care and protection as well as strengthening both bulbs and ends. This hair type needs an on-point and balanced hair care to avoid both weighing down and dryness. Medium porosity hair wants to be smooth, soft and shiny, not frizzy or static. It is important to keep it moisturised. Strands need oils that fix damage in hair structure as well as create a protective microscopic filter which increases shine and ensures protection.
Do you have medium porosity hair? Choose argan oil, macadamia oil, jojoba oil, maracuja oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil, arachis oil, camellia oil, moringa oil, apricot oil or plum seed oil.
My hair has high porosity – what it means and which oils I should choose?
High porosity hair needs an intensive repair and intensified protection. You should aim at fixing the internal structures, protecting it all the time and locking water in. Highly-porous hair needs oils with large molecules which are able to fill the gaps in the keratin layer. It is a key thing that this hair type gets bounce, vitality and strengthened bulbs whereas the scalp – regains the hydro-lipid balance.
Do you have high porosity hair? Choose sesame oil, sunflower oil, soy oil, cottonseed oil, evening primrose oil, linseed oil, black seed oil and pumpkin seed oil.
Hair porosity & mixing oils – the secret of a good hair product
Natural oils contain something more than fatty acids. They make up the source of vitamins, minerals, plant sterols (phytosterols) and flavonoids. To intensify the power of oils, try a well-composed blend of a few oils which suit the hair porosity. A precise composition of fatty acids, vitamins and conditioning ingredients let your hair get back its shape in just a few weeks.
